She will replace Staple, who has been chairman of the FAP since its creation in 1998, in May.

Wright leaves the SFO on 21 April after five years as director to become an independent member of the Strategic Board of the Office of Fair Trading. Barely two weeks later she will follow in Staple’s footsteps to continue her career in fraudbusting.

Wright has pointed out that the cost of fraud continues to rise year on year. ‘The panel still has a substantial job to do in terms of alerting the public and business to the dangers of fraud and persuading government to make it a higher priority. I am very much looking forward to leading the panel in its work,’ she said.

The fraud panel is an independent body of volunteers from the law and accountancy, banking, insurance, commerce, regulators, the police, government departments and public agencies. The watchdog is sponsored by the ICAEW, and aims to help both public and private sectors to fight back on fraud. It has recently become a limited company and is looking to broaden its funding base.